Dem poll: Hagan leads challengers by double digits in North Carolina

Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) holds double-digit leads over all of her potential 2014 rivals in the state's Senate matchup, according to a new poll.

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Hagan holds a 49 percent to 38 percent lead over North Carolina state Assembly Speaker Thom Tillis (R), the main announced candidate against her, according to a new survey from Democratic-affiliated Public Policy Polling.

That's the same lead she holds over Tea Party candidate Greg Brannon (R), her other announced opponent.

That margin is comparable to her edge over other candidates mulling a bid.

Her underwater approval ratings show that she's still vulnerable, however. Hagan's job approval rating in the poll sits at 43 percent, with 45 percent disapproving — not the best place to be for an incumbent.

North Carolina could prove a pivotal race in the battle for Senate control.

Republicans need to net six Senate seats and have the upper hand in three open-seat races. Their easiest path to victory appears to be by defeating three of four red-state Democrats up for reelection, and Hagan is one of those targets.

Tillis's primary numbers aren't very strong in the poll. He places sixth out of eight potential candidates with 6 percent support, though his support grows in a smaller field.

The automated poll of 600 voters and 373 GOP primary voters was conducted from July 12-14 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent for the total survey and 5.1 percent for the GOP primary.